Hipcycler

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Now when most people say that statement, they're complaining about sticky, hot weather. I on the other hand say that and mean that I LOVE it. Great summertime ride today with dew points up into the 60's, 90 degrees and sun beating down. To me, these are ideal conditions to ride in.

Plus, a bonus today.

I managed to hook up with a fellow BF member "Flywolf" and his drop-dead beautiful Bianchi.

He's a pilot at Midwest Airlines and had the day off. He rides in my area, so we met nine miles into my ride as I did the longer 35-mile loop to take advantage of the great summer conditions that I like so much.

"Flywolf" was a pleasure to ride with. He's very steady on that beautiful Bianchi of his. On the way back he took the point for a while and we were cruising along in the 22's. It was nice to be able to tuck in behind someone like that and just ride nice and smooth and pretty quick, trusting the person in front won't do anything stupid.

After we got back to his car and I kept going toward home I experienced what I think is one of the greatest feelings you can have on a bike. THIS, to me, defines summer.

I started for the first time to feel a little over-heated. On days like this I carry two bottles. One has my standard mix of Emergen-C and Gatorade in water, while the other is straight water.

I was down to only straight water left when I took a drink. Oh sure, it's not cold any more, but that's not the feeling I'm talking about. After a drink, I squirted that water all over my head inside my helmet and down my back.

What a great feeling as the air rushes onto that dripping, now slightly salty from your sweat, water as it cools you down under that hot sun. It's wonderful.

Yeah...can you tell I love it hot in the summer!

chzman

you are crazy. it is hot out there.

shark2000br

Wisconsin???

Here's my follow-up:

I love January. Sure it's chilly out, but when you really get those legs going, you can hardly tell its only 40 degrees! So what if the sun is only out for 2/3 of the ride, I think its really not that bad.

donrhummy

One of the greatest feelings on a bike is riding up a mountain, feeling that churning of your legs as they move in a constant circle, knowing that if you stop pedaling, you're moving backwards. I enjoy that more than any other type of riding.

cyclezealot

I love those cooler summer dayz, when its only 78 and balmy ; and the cool breezes naturally keep the sweat from acculmating under the jersey collar. Just like today was.

lvleph

Wisconsin get a bit below 40. Just a bit.

Caliente

Oh yeah! summer is awesome, flying along- lil' sweat,lil' water, gotta love it!!!

chzman

we had a stretch last winter where the air temperature never broke 0F for something like a week... and the windchill at times was -40F, which is also -40C. i bet LA doesn't get to see the temperature scales cross paths like that!

gfrance

Now is what we all look forward to in the cold, dark days of winter. Enjoy it while it lasts.

recursive

40 degrees in January!?! Hah!

Take 20 or 30 off that for the average. Take 60 off for my coldest ride last winter.

The rest of your post is correct though.

Cromulent

40F here in January would be considered tropical. We'd all be confused... running around looking for the nearest beer tent.

roadfix

When relative humidity is above 40% coupled with warm temps, I don't function well.

chzman

mmm... beer

dstrong 

I do a lot of hot weather riding and wouldn't have it any other way. I love tipping my head down, pressing the front of my helmet against my forehead and watching the stream of sweat hit the pavement. I love grabbing a cold water from the pac 'n save (or other country store), filling my water bottle then wasting 1/4 of it into my helmet vents as I get back on the road. I love hitting the shaded sections of the road then hitting the sun and the blast furnace of the road heat. Salt stains on the jersey and shorts are really cool too. Anything below about 65 degrees is too cool for me!

lvleph

I remember when I was a kid in NH when it would get 50F out and I was ready to go swimming.

caloso

When I was a kid in Nor Cal, I wouldn't go swimming unless it was at least 90F. Might catch a cold otherwise.

palesaint

I will agree with the OP: Summer is the best time to ride

Must disagree about enjoying high humidity though. Give me dry air anytime! Even with the cracked skin on my heels from sandle season, I wouldn't give it up. One of the best feelings is when it's 90 degrees with 15% RH. You have to stop for something real quick, maybe wait for someone to catch up etc. The sun beats down on you and you feel the beads of sweat begin to form on your arms and forehead. Then you get back on the bike and start peddling. Instead of the increased heartrate causing more perspiration though, the low humidy wind flows around you and you instantly cool down. Until you hit zone 4 that is.

Great post though! Enjoyed your mini ride report.

Hipcycler

Thanks.

In addition to the weather theme, it should be noted that once again I was able to meet up with a fellow BF rider who turns out to be quite nice.

I did invite 'Flywolf' to come down the road nine more miles with me to my house for a cold Gatorade, but he took a pass. I think he wanted to ditch me so he could dial up his Bianchi to 400 watts!

Hey Flywolf....first left-hander after you pulled off, who rides past me in the opposite direction? That's right, the infamous KNAVE. Heck, he probably rode past you if you were there loading up your bike!

Adgooroo

Hip - I took my usual midday-instead-of-lunch route south of my office today in 92 degree sunshine; a rolly 18 mile loop I can do in less than a lunch-hour. I pedalled into a bit of a breeze going south on the way out knowing I would catch a boost on the way back. Heading west on the loop, I watched the sky turn dark and thunderclouds pile up; on the easy stretch going north I felt some big, thick 'n juicy, absolutely tantalizing midsummer raindrops hit and sizzle on my skin. THAT's another summer high I won't forget.

Hipcycler

^Awesome.

dynodan22

You know what I like about hot humid days in milwaukee. There is no one on the road .
I was out last night, I swear to god it was a like after 5 p.m. every body ran inside to the air
conditioning. I agree Hip a nice hot ride is good. I have learned a lesson though don't wear
a sleeveless jersey on a ride from Milwaukee to Dousman a couple weeks ago did some nice
to the shoulders. Though I met a cool dude on a Colnago on the New Berlin Trail . He reminded
me of Chester Cheetos for some reason , still a worthy ride sunburn or not.

Dynodan22

Hipcycler

Yeah...I sleeved....ALL the time. Base layer too.

dynodan22

I still go sleeveless , I just don't rush out the door to escape the wife as quick and
throw some lotion on the shoulders. My wife just doesn't understand why I would
waste a day of vacation to go for a long bike ride. So usually I have to sneak in get the
stuff on and vamoose before she binds me in to some death spiral of work to do
around the house.

Dynodan

InTheRain

You can keep your heat. The best cycling weather anywhere is mid June thru mid September in Western Washington. You can ride in upper 40 degree weather in the mornings until about 9 am and ride in the 70's or 80's in the afternoon and evening. Very little wind. Lot's of days with cloud cover until the afternoon so you can ride without the sun beating down on you. The scenery... you can't beat it - mountains, beaches, forests, farmland, lakes, rivers, and city - it's all right here, you pick what you would like to ride. And if you absolutely need the heat - 100 miles across the mountains and you can be in the desert and 100 degrees.

lvleph

Isn't that what vacation is for? Hell, I would pay for the Tour of the TdF for vacation.